VesPro Melatonin News

TUESDAY, Aug. 29, 2017 – Parents often try unconventional treatments – such as acupuncture and herbal products – when their kids are sick, but many don't tell their pediatricians about it, a new report shows. Such omissions could be risky, especially when these young patients are already taking traditional medications, the report authors said. "The point we're making in this report is that many of our young patients are already using these [complementary] therapies," said lead author Dr. Hilary McClafferty. "And much of that use is driven by the consumer, by parents looking for additional help for their children. "But a lot of parents are not necessarily disclosing this use to their child's pediatrician, for fear of censure or ridicule," McClafferty explained. "That can be a problem, because while we are really excited about some of the advances in the field of complementary medicine ... Read more

TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 – A curious toddler opens a bottle of melatonin he finds on the kitchen counter, and accidentally overdoses on a supplement typically used by adults to help with sleep. In that case, the doctor who treated the child only had to deal with a very tired 3-year-old, but it might have been a far more serious scenario if a different dietary supplement, such as the energy product ephedra or the male enhancement herb yohimbe, had been swallowed. "We see it all the time," said Dr. Barbara Pena, research director of the emergency medicine department at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami. Indeed, a new report from researchers bears out Pena's observations: From 2005 through 2012, the annual rate of accidental exposures to dietary supplements rose in the United States by nearly 50 percent, and 70 percent of those exposures involved young children. "The biggest increase ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 – Your Mom may have been right about broccoli's goodness. A small study hints that a substance in the crunchy veggy may help some with diabetes get better control of their blood sugar. Researchers found that a concentrated extract of the substance, called sulforaphane, helped obese type 2 diabetes patients rein in their stubbornly high blood sugar levels. The caveat, however, is that the study was short-term and small – involving 97 people with diabetes followed for 12 weeks. And the extract was taken in addition to the diabetes drug metformin, not instead of it. Plus, the extract the researchers used was not like the sulforaphane supplements available at your local health food store. "The way that you produce and process the extract is important to keep the sulforaphane intact," said senior researcher Dr. Anders Rosengren, of the University of Gothenburg, in ... Read more

TUESDAY, May 2, 2017 – Falls and resulting hip fractures can prove disabling and even fatal for seniors. And new research suggests the risk of hip fractures rises soon after an older person is prescribed a sleeping pill. Specifically, older people are at greater risk for hip fractures for two weeks after they start taking prescription sleeping pills. Those pills include benzodiazepines such as Valium or Ativan, and newer "Z-drug" alternatives such as Ambien, Sonata or Lunesta. Even though Z-drugs are often prescribed to help people sleep, "there is no evidence that they are a safer alternative to benzodiazepines in relation to hip fracture risk," said study lead author Dr. Ben Carter, of Cardiff University's School of Medicine and the Institute of Psychiatry, in the United Kingdom. "Our study shows that both appear to significantly increase the risk of hip fracture when newly ... Read more

TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday posted warning letters to 14 companies that are selling more than 65 fake cancer treatments. The bogus products include pills, capsules, powders, creams, teas, oils and treatment and diagnostic kits. They're most commonly marketed and sold without FDA approval on websites and social media platforms, the FDA announcement of its action said. The treatments are frequently advertised as "natural" and often falsely labeled as dietary supplements, the agency added. "Consumers should not use these or similar unproven products because they may be unsafe and could prevent a person from seeking an appropriate and potentially lifesaving cancer diagnosis or treatment," said Douglas Stearn. He is director of the Office of Enforcement and Import Operations in the FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs. "We encourage people to ... Read more

THURSDAY, March 9, 2017 – Clocks will spring ahead one hour with the time change on Sunday morning, but medical experts have plenty of advice on how to weather that lost hour of sleep. "'Gaining' an hour in the fall is much easier for our bodies than 'losing' an hour in the spring," said Dr. Praveen Rudraraju, medical director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y. Starting a few days before the time change, people can prepare themselves by going to bed 15 or 20 minutes earlier each night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. But it can still be hard to adjust to the switch afterwards, sleep specialists said. "In fact, it may take some people up to a week to get used to the new time change," Rudraraju said. "Though it may be tempting to stay up an extra hour, one of the best ways to fight the effects of daylight saving ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2017 – If you take melatonin supplements to help you nod off, take note: Many brands are inaccurately labeled, containing much less – or much more – of the sleep hormone than indicated, a new study reports. What's more, a laboratory analysis found that eight of 31 melatonin supplements contained significant quantities of the drug serotonin, which is used to treat neurological disorders, the researchers said. "There does exist a safety concern," said study co-author Praveen Saxena of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. He directs of the Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation at the university. Scientists who analyzed the sleep-hormone supplements purchased in Canada said more than 70 percent were misleadingly labeled. That is, the contents didn't fall within 10 percent of the breakdown claimed on the label. Melatonin content varied from as ... Read more

THURSDAY, Feb. 2, 2017 – Spending time in the outdoors may improve your sleep, a small study suggests. Researchers found that a week of winter camping reset the body's "clock" to be more in tune with nature's light-and-dark cycle. The result was longer sleep. The findings, the study authors said, add to evidence that time in the sun and the dark helps people get to sleep at a decent hour. The study also highlights how modern living – so heavy on artificial light – may thwart our sleep. "It's clear that modern environments do influence our circadian rhythms," said Kenneth Wright, the study's senior researcher. Circadian rhythms refer to the shifts in the body's biological processes that happen over 24 hours, partly in response to light and darkness. But while our ancestors may have gone to bed early and risen with the sun, that's not true today, said Wright, a professor at the ... Read more

-- You know it's not healthy to get too little sleep. But going to bed earlier is no cinch. The National Sleep Foundation offers this advice: Establish the same desired bedtime each night, even on weekends. Make all electronics off-limits for 30 minutes before that time. Trim back by 15 minutes at a time if you're pushing bedtime back significantly. Exercise each day, but do so at least four hours before bed. Consider some light yoga or stretching. Avoid food, drinks, medication or tobacco products that contain caffeine, alcohol or nicotine, which can keep you awake. Prepare for sleep an hour before your desired bedtime. That means washing your face, brushing your teeth, reading or listening to music. Follow this same routine each night. Set an alarm for when it's time to start your bedtime routine and turn off any electronics. Read more

MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 – Skipping across time zones might be more than just tiring for pro baseball players: The resulting jet lag may actually harm their performance on the field, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 Major League Baseball games played over 20 years. The conclusion: jet lag may have a significant impact on players. The Northwestern University researchers said they found that jet lag slowed the base running of home teams but not away teams. And both home and away pitchers gave up more home runs when jet-lagged. "Jet lag does impair the performance of Major League Baseball players. The negative effects of jet lag we found are subtle, but they are detectable and significant. And they happen on both offense and defense and for both home and away teams, often in surprising ways," study leader Ravi Allada, a circadian rhythms expert, said in a ... Read more

-- Are you sabotaging your own attempts to get more shuteye? The National Sleep Foundation suggests: Identify and correct any unhealthy sleep habits. Instead of checking your smartphone just before bed, do something relaxing, such as meditating. Prepare your bed well before bedtime. Wash and change bedsheets regularly. Read more

-- If you're not getting enough sleep, you're not alone. But you don't need to turn to caffeine to help you feel less groggy. The National Sleep Foundation recommends: Before bed avoid alcohol, which can affect sleep. Set a sleep schedule, waking and going to sleep at the same time each day. Skip the snooze button. Set the alarm for the time you truly need to wake up. Open the curtains to let in natural sunlight as soon as you wake. Get daily exercise. Eat a nutritious, balanced breakfast. Read more

-- If you're groggy in the morning despite getting enough rest, you may have to change your sleep habits. The National Sleep Foundation recommends: Gradually move your bedtime back by 15 minutes each night until you reach a desired time. Set an alarm to remind you when it's time to go to bed. In the late evening, avoid bright light. That means no TV, no cell phone, tablet and other screens. Turn off bright lights, and keep the room dim to prep your body for bed. As soon as you wake, open the blinds to let in natural sunlight. If it's still dark, turn on the lights. Avoid the urge to sleep later on weekends. If you do want to sleep later, keep it to no more than an hour. Read more

TUESDAY, Nov. 29, 2016 – Preprogrammed doses of medications that can raise the risk of falls are often set too high for older hospital patients, new research shows. In the study, doctors looked at the records of 287 patients over the age of 65 who fell while staying in a large urban hospital. Some patients fell more than once, adding to a total of 328 falls in the study. Of those falls, 62 percent occurred in patients who had been given at least one high-risk medication in the 24 hours before their fall. Of that 62 percent, 16 percent had been given two high-risk medicines, while another 16 percent had been given three or more. And 41 percent of the medications studied were electronically set at doses that were greater than recommended for older patients. The 29 medicines examined included opioid painkillers such as OxyContin and Percocet, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants and ... Read more

-- It's common to occasionally toss and turn while trying to fall asleep, but for some people, it's a nightly battle. The National Sleep Foundation recommends: Slowly and gradually change your bedtime, backing it up by 15 minutes each night until you reach the time you want. In the morning, expose yourself to bright artificial light or natural sunlight. At night, as you get ready for bed, keep the lights dim. Turn off electronics at least 30 minutes before bed, and steer clear of caffeine and alcohol a few hours before bed. Make sure the bedroom is dark, quiet and cool. Stay consistent with sleep and wake times, even on weekends. Talk to your doctor about melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep. Read more